Connector.



UNITED @TATE% PATEN FETCH.

EMIL C. G. MUELLER, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERNELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CON NESTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 28, 1913. Serial No. 787,128.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL C. G. MUELLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey,have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Connectors, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, concise and exact description.

This invention relates to connectors and more particularly toconnectors-for joining electrical conductors, and has for its object theproductionof a connector composed of two members which will locktogether when connection is made.

The features of this invention are the means provided for lockingtogether the two members of the connector and other details of structureand combination of parts as will hereinafter more clearly appear.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing inwhich thesame reference characters are used throughout to designate the sameparts, in which Figure 1 is a -view partly in section on line 11 10fFig. 2, and Fig. 2 is a view partly in section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawing, the connector comprises two members, a ack 5and a plug 6. The jack 5 consists of a box-like metallic case 7 having aspring pressed cover 8 pivoted to one edge of the open side.Insulatively secured to the base of the case 7 are U-shaped contactsprings 9 and 10. Terminals 11 and 12 are electrically connectedtocontact springs 9 and 10 respectively. A plunger 13 having reducedportions 14 and 15 is mounted cross-wise of the case 7 about midwaybetween the contact springs 9 and 10. On one end of the plunger 13 isformed a head v16, which cooperates with the side of the case 7 to limitthe movement of the plunger in one direction. The other end of theplunger extends beyond the other side of the case 7 and is encircled byaspiral spring One end of the spring 4 rests against the side of case 7and the other end against a projection 17 of the plunger 13, andnormally holds the plunger 13 in the position shown in Fig. 2. The baseof the case 7 is provided with an opening 18 through which conductors tobe connected to the terminals 11 and 12 may be brought. The ends of thecase 7 are'each provided with a threaded opening 19 into which conduitmay be secured, and therethrough may opening in the side of the case 7when the cover 8 is in its closed position.

The plug 6 consists of a box-like body 25 having a handle 26 formedintegrally thereon. Contact members 27 and 28 are insulatively securedto the bottom of the box-like body 25. Terminals 29 and 30 areelectrically connected to contact members 27 and 28 respectively. Bothsides of the boxlike body 25 are slotted as at 31, 31, both slots beingin such position that they register with the plunger 13,-when the plug 6is inserted within the jack 5. The slots or notches 31 each haverestricted portions 32 and 33 which form restricted entrances for thenotches and permit the reduced portions of the plunger 13 to passtherethrough, bu't prevent the passage of the portions of normaldiameter. The handle 26 of the plug is hollow to permit the passagetherethrough of the conductors which are to be connected to terminals 29and 30.

When it is desired to make connection between the plug 6 and the jack 5,the cover 8 of the jack is raised and forced back, forcing the lug 20into engagement with the end of'the plunger 13, whereby said bar ismoved against the action of the spring 4: When the cover 8 has beenmoved its maximum distance, the plunger 13 has been moved suificientlyto permit the reduced portions 14 and 15 thereof to be in line to beengaged by the slots 31., 31 of the plug upon the insertion of said plugWithin the jack. Releasing the cover 8 will permit it to rest againstthe handle 26 of the plug, due to the action of the spring secured tothe cover. This will cause disengagement of the lug 20 and the end ofthe plunger 13, permitting said plunger to be returned to its normalposition, due to the action of the spring 4. The return of the plunger13 to its normal position moves the larger portions of the plunger intothe slots 31, 31

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

move said plunger of the plug and locks said plug within the jack. WVhenthe plug is inserted within the jack, contact is made between thecontact members 27 and 28 and the U-shaped contact springs 9 and 10respectively.

hen it is desired to disconnect the plug and jack, the cover 8 is movedto its maximum distance outwardly, causing the lug to engage the endofithe plunger 13 and move said plunger against the action oi spring 4so that the reduced portions 14:, 15 of the plunger 13 are within theslots 31, 31 of the plug, whereupon the plug may be Withdrawn from thejack, the cover released and all parts returned to normal.

A plug and jack equipped with a locking mechanism, suchas has beendescribed, is particularly applicable where telephone connection isdesired between a tra n in a station'and a telephone exchange. A jackhaving a locking mechanism is mounted in a convenient place in thestation, and another jack without locking mechanism is mounted under oneof the cars of the train. Conductors from the telephone exchange areconnected to the station jack, and conductors from a telephone setinside the car to the train jack. A cord having two conductors, each endterminating in a plug, is provided to complete connection'between thestation and train jacks. When connection is de* sired, the plugs areinserted within the jacks. Should the train start before the plugs arewithdrawn from the jacks, disconnection will automatically take place atthe train jack which is not provided with a locking mechanism, and thecord and plugs will be left inthe station.

While a plug and jack have been described as embodying this invention,it will be readily apparent that it is applicable to various otherconnectors and the invention is, therefore, not limited to a plug andjack.

I claim:

1. In a connecting device, a casing, a jackspring located within saidcasing, a plug-for engaging said jack-spring, a cover for. said jackcasing, and means located in said casing I and controlled by said coverfor retaining said plug in engagement with said jackspring. a i

2. In a connecting device, a casing, a jackspring mounted therein, aplug contact for cooperating with said jack-sprlng, a casing for saidplug contact adapted for insertion mto said Jack cas1ng,lock1ng meanswithin said jack casing for engaging said plug-contact casing to retainsaid plug contact and said jack-spring in engagement, and a cover forsaid jack casing controlling the operation of said locking means.

3. In a connecting'device, a j ack-spring, a casing therefor, a. plugcontact for cooperating with said jack-spring, a casing for said plugcontact adapted for insertion into said jack casing, said plug casinghaving a notch therein, a spring-pressed plunger in said jack casinghaving portions cooperating with the notch in said plug casing to locksaid plug casing in said jack casing, a hinged cover for said ackcasing, and means on said cover for engaging said plunger to permit theinsertion and withdrawal of said plug casing.

1. In a connecting device, a casing, a jackspring mounted therein, aplug contact for cooperating with said jack-spring, a casing for saidplug contact having a notch therein, a spring-pressed plunger withinsaid jack casing normally preventing engagement of said jack-spring andsaid plug contact and having a reduced portion, a hinged cover for saidjack casing, and means on said cover for engaging and moving saidplunger against the spring to permit registration of the reduced portionof said plunger and the notch of said plug casing.

5. In a connecting device, a casing, a jackspring mounted therein, aspring-pressed plunger in said casing having a portion of reduceddiameter, a plug contact for 0055p crating with said jack-spring, acasing for said plug contact adapted for insertion into thereducedportion thereof to pass through the restricted notch entrance ofsaid phig casing.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 25th day of AugustA. D.,

EMIL C. G. MUELLER.

Witnesses:

Roy C. HoPoooD, WALTER F. HOFFMAN.

